Uladzimir Shantsau, head of the Mahiliou regional organization of the United Civil Party

Uladzimir
Shantsau, chair of Mahiliou regional office of the United Civil Party of
Belarus, will stand trial for involvement in the organization of so called
People’s Assembly on 8 October, following his interrogation last morning.

The
activist was charged with violating procedures for holding local assemblies; in
particular, Mr. Shantsau is accused of failure to count the number of the
People’s Assembly participants in Mahiliou.

This the
first case when a person is facing charges for violating procedures for holding
local assemblies, says Mahiliou human rights defender Barys Bukhel. In all the
previous cases, activists were charged with violating the Mass Events Code.

“As the
local authorities admitted that it was a local assembly, Uladzimir Shantsau
should not be arrested. In case the court find fault with the minor violations
during the event, he may be fined BYR 600,000,” says the human rights defender.